Territory & Chiefs

WHERE DID THE TIMUCUA LIVE?   The Timucua people lived in northeast and central Florida and southeast Georgia.  They all spoke the same language – a language we call Timucua. 

WHO WERE THE CHIEFS? There were many Timucua villages, and each had its own chief. These villages banded together to make trade agreements and protect each other.  Each of these village groups was ruled by a headchief.  When the French arrived in Florida (1562), the three main Timucua headchiefs were Saturiwa, Outina, and Potano.  Each of these men ruled over 30 or more villages.  Sometimes they fought battles against each other.  Chiefs were usually men, but some villages had female chiefs.   Cubaconi was a female Timucua chief who lived up in Georgia.

WHAT OTHER NATIVE GROUPS LIVED NEAR THE TIMUCUA?  There were many other native groups in Florida and Georgia.  Some of them lived near the locations of modern cities.  Look at the following table for some examples.

WHO HELPED THE CHIEF?  Men or women who advised the chief on planting, battle, seasons, or other important issues were very important in each village.  These advisors were called “inija” or “anacotima.”   Another important person was the “isucu,” who used plant medicines and prayers to heal the sick.   In addition, the “jarva” was the person who Timucua people went to if they wanted it to rain, if they needed good luck on a hunt, or if they wanted to get married.

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